Women's soccer takes on Western Michigan in home opener

After three consecutive road trips, the IU women’s soccer team is ready for its first home contest.

The Hoosiers (2-1) play Western Michigan today in their first game at Bill Armstrong Stadium in 2010.

The Broncos (2-1) won their first two games before losing to Michigan State on Sunday.

The team earned a berth in the Mid-America Conference Tournament last season and have seen all goal-scorers return this year.
 
Today’s game marks the beginning of a month-long homestand for IU. The team plays its next eight games in Bloomington, including contests against conference rivals Northwestern and Wisconsin on Sept. 24 and Sept. 26, respectively.

Coach Mick Lyon said in the second episode of “Mick’s Minutes,” a weekly video blog on IU Athletics’ website, he and the team are trying to lobby for more fans to attend games.

IU won two of its first three games on the road, including a  dominating 6-0 victory against Butler on Sunday.

Junior midfielder Devon Beach scored twice against the Bulldogs and is currently tied with sophomore forward Orianica Velasquez and junior forward Carly Samp for the most goals scored on the team with two.

Velasquez broke the tie in the first half with a floated long shot, and her assist to Beach two minutes after the halftime break unveiled the second-half massacre.

The Hoosiers scored on a penalty kick after Butler’s goalkeeper drew a red card in the 58th minute, and the team delivered the ball to the goal three times in the final 15 minutes.

In the 2-0 loss to Kentucky on Aug. 27, IU did not turn its advantages on the field into a win. The zero on the scoreboard did not reflect the Hoosiers’ offense as IU led in shots attempted and corner kicks earned.